Process of treating gold and silver ores.



No. 6155,1544. y Patented Aug. 2|, 1900.

S Y I u. mnscume.

PROCESS 0f. TREATING GOLD AND SILVER (IRES.

- (Application am; m 19, 1599. (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

6 K ATTORNEYS Patentgd Augl 2l, I900 HFHIBSGHINL PROCESS 05 nn SILVER ones. (Application men! 19, Q99.)

2 Shank-Shem 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES NITED STATES Fries.

PATENT HENRY IIIRSCIIING, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE MINERAL UNION, LIMITED, OF PHCEHIX, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

PROCESS OF TREATING GOLD AND SILVER ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,544, dated August 21, 1900.

Application iiled May 19,1899. Serial No. '7l7,478.' (No specimens.)

T0 ail who/it it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY IIIRSOHING, a citizen of the United States, residing in Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in the Treatment of Ores Containing Gold and Silver, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a process which has for its object principally the extraction of cuprlc oxid from copper ores; but it is also applicable for obtaining silver and gold from ores containing the same, whether with or without copper. It is an aniim'inia process, which is applicable to auriferous and argentiferous ores generally, but is advantageously and economically etliective with refractory ores, from which copper could not beobtaiued satisfactorily or profitably by the melting and other processes hitherto employed. In ores containing copper in a native state or as suliids, arsenids, carbonates, oxid's, or other compounds the copper is dissolved by my solvent and readily precipitated as cupric oxid by simply heating the mixture with steam or directly by a furnace. Ifdesired, the ores, especially those containing sulfids, arsenids, or antimonids, may be calcined or even chloridized in a furnace before lixiviation, and yet the solvent will be profitably applicable with the proper arrangements of the apparatus as compared with the old and com plicated processes.

Before describing my invention in detail I will state that I am aware it is not broadly new to employ an ammonia process for the separation of the metals from the gangue with which they are found or to precipitate metalsfrom such solutions and recover the solution or the essential part-thc ammonia of the solution-again. llowever, my present process is superior, new in its application and final result, and strictly subjected to the chemical and physical and mechan ical laws, and therefore it is a new method in hydromctallurgy. For instance, a considerable amount of ammonia was lost by one method, owing to the want of careful adjustment of the necessary amount of ammonia to the quantity of copperi ontaincdin the ore and also owing to defects of the apparatus const acted for attempting to regain the ammonia distilling the metal solution,

whereby only a part of; the applied ammonia is evolved, as a great many unvolitable compounds are formed during the process of extraction or the contact of the ammonia with the ore-body. It the boiled-out metal solution iswasted or discharged to the yard, as

it has been done by all previous applica,

tions, the process becomes unprofitable and tooiexpensive for practical purposes. Further, in the past the fact has been entirely overlooked that all ores, but more especially the'argillaceous ores, retain a largwquantity of ammonia, even after being washed thoroughly, and this loss of ammonia is highly Said process therefore has re maincd practically a mere laboratory experiment.

After many years of expensive and tiresomeexperimenting I have succeeded in devising a practical improved ammonia process and a plant for carrying the same into etfect. According to said process I obtain excellent results by using as a solvent ammonia or car- Donate of ammonia separately or both mixed and with the optional addition of a nitrate; but it is advisable to add in all cases an oxidizing agent, as in this case no decomposition of the ammonia is possible, and, also a higher extraction can be secured.

The amount of ammonia (N11 or compounds thereof used for dissolution of copper or copper compounds from ores is determined,

according to the richness of the ore. The best practical results are obtained by employing for every sixty-three parts of copper contained" in the ore thirty-four parts of ammonia and in addition an excess of about one-tenth part of the applied ammonia to secure the disso-1 v asindicated. PipeZstarts densation-tank B. fwash-water-solntion tank G" and 0, and an ore-bin .15

L with ore-chute L. On the third floor is an ore-tank C. On

the second floor is a settling-tank D and a wash-water-solution tank D. On the first floor, is a slime-tank O and a filter-tank E. On the ground-floor is a cone boiler F, drying-pan F, two oxid-tanks F and F, a sum ptank F, a ground-tank F", a plain boiler F, and also a pump H.

2. The pipe connections are as follows:

Pipe 1 starts from bottom of safety and condensing tanks B and B and leads to the top of the ore-tank C. It is provided with valves, from the side of the ore-tank C and leads to the settling-tank D removable filter A and connects with pipe 8. fromlwash-water-solution tank R and ends and also to the wash-water-solution tank D. Pipe 3 starts at the side of tank D and ends 'at top of filter-tank E. Pipe 4 starts from the bottom of filter-tank. E and ends at top of cone-boiler F. Pipe 5 starts on top of coneboiler F and leads through coil-tank C" to the safety-tank B, which latter is connected by pipe y with condensing-tank B.

3. Water-supply, &c., pipes: Pipe 6 starts from boiled-out-solution tank A and connects with pipe 8. Pipe 7 starts from water-tank Pipe S starts 4 ore-tank 0, thus connecting oretank 0 with tank R directly and tanks A and A indirectly through pipes (3, 7, and 8. Pipe 9 connects water-tank A with coil-tank 0'. Pipe 10 connects water-tank A with coiltank O. Both of these two pipes enter the coil-tanks O and O at the top and end close to the bottom of the tank. at represents overflows which are connected with ordinary piping, carrying off surplus .water to the yard. Pipe 11 starts from the side of tank D and connects with pipe 12, which starts from slimetank 0 and ends at the sum p-tank F Pipe 13 forms the connection between sump-tank F and pump H. Pipe 14 starts at the side of cone-boiler F just above the cone and ends at ground-tank F", which is E to retain floating oxids. Pipe 15 connects ground-tank F" with pump .H. The piping of the pump is so arranged that by appropriately opening or closing the valves solution can be or from tank F", as the case may require-it,

through pipe 16 to wash-water-solution tank R, or by means of a valved branch or extenrespectively.

R,two (2) coil-tanks sion of pipelii to pipe 17 into the boiled-outsolution tank A.

4.- Steam-supply piping: Pipe 18 starts from a suitable boiler (not shown) and connects, by means of a branch pipe 19, with ore-tank C near the bottom. Branch pipe 20 connects in the same manner with slime-tank O, branch pipe 21 with the bottom of filter-tank E, and branch pipe 22 with the top of the cone-boiler F, the pipe being extended downward near to the end of the cone. Pipe 23 is. a branch .from pipe 22, extending to the boiler F, and

has also a branch pipe 24:, supplying the jacket of the drying-pan F with steam. This pipe discharges from the water-jacket by an opening 32. In case exhaust-steam is used of course connection will be made with the exhaust-port of the engine.

5. Vapor-pipe connection besides those already mentioned, (pipe 5:) From the top of the tanks F, F, E, C, and C valved branch pipes connect with the pipe 25, and this pipe provided with a pumped from tank F' enters into coil-tank Q at the bottom, extending through the same as a coil and ending insafety-tank B, from where connection is made by pipe 3/ with condensing-tank 1%. It is, however, preferable to have another set of safety and condensing tanks provided, as the pressure and absorption of the ammonia vapors can be better regulated than if only one set of tanks B and B is employed or The ore is fed into ore-tank O by orechute L. At the bottom oi ore-tank C and slimetank 'O is the discharge-pipe 26, with a branch from slime-tank C, said pipe leading to the yard. Pipe two branches connec 'ng the tanks D and D and ending at thetop of tank 0. At the lowest point of the cone on the boiler F is an outlet-valve, through which the oxids may be discharged into the tank F. An overflowpipe 28 connects the tank F" with tank F, and a pipe 28 connects the tank F" with ground-tank F". Near the bottom of tank F" starts a pipe 29, which leads to the'boiler F. Pipe 30. starts from tank A and connects with steam-pipe 18. boiler F". Pipe to be connected with the filter-tank E. K represents valved nipples on tanks 0 and O. M represents manhole-covers, S gageglasses, and 0 represents valves. As a matter of convenience waterrgages are constructed on all the tanks. The ore-tank C and are constructed alike, and each stationary part c and a shaft 0', on which is adapted to slide the sleeve .0 havingstirrerarms C and provided with a. ring C for the purpose of raising the stirrer by means of any suitable hoisting device, such as rope or cable and pulleys P. The shaft 0' is rotated bysuitable gearing g, and the ore-tank has on top a manhole M, with a cover and ore-fecderj and two" valved connections for passing stock solution at 1 and carrying oft the vapors at 8,

Just above 27 is a discharge-pipe with of them has a the bo e s (i the o're-tank I place two valved nipples K to be cbnnected in succession by the pipe 2 with the top of the settler D or wash-settler D. Each settler has about twelve inches above the bot- I 5, "a twenty-mesh screen I proceed as follows, in

four stages:

' I. First stage: I first feed the required amount of the stock solution hereinbefore mentioned through the pipe 1 from the safety andcondensation tanks B and B into the oretank C. Then I gradually feed the fine ore through the ore-feeder j, agitate until a thorough disintegration has taken place, (usually two hours,) and thenadd sufficient water or boiled-out solution from a previous run to obtain a strong solution with a concentration of up to six pounds of copper to one cubic foot,

Icontinue to agitate about two hours, allow to- I settle,and discharge through one of the valves v[at K and pipe 2 into the settler D. The main portion of the copper is then recovered in the settler D, where plenty of time (about seven hours) is given to deposit the slime which passes into the settler with the solution. The ore in the tank has settled very closely together, and it is therefore very difiicult to start an agitator remaining constantly at the same level; but by raising the agitator during the time given for settling and adding about the same amount of boiled-out solution, water, or wash-water solution as has been absorbed by the ore or slime bodythrough the orifice near the bottom of the ore or slime tank, or adding such solution through the top valves from the respective tanks A, A, or R, a considerable pressure is created, the heavy settled ore or slime body is. loosened by the downward screw-like motion a the agitator, and thus the tailings or slimes can be easily .set in rotation and'motion. A clutch-pulley is attached to the driving-gear to enable the agitator to be started gradually. After agitating a short time the greater part of the copper is now in solution on top of the settled ore-body, which is also passed to the settler beneath in the same manner as described 5 before. Now, repeating-the operation, I fill the ore-tank with water or boiled-out solution of a previous run, agitate again, allow to settle, and discharge into the wash-settler D through the pipe 2, where plenty of time for settling (about six hours) is given. All the available copper is thus washed out, and if the ore-body does not require steaming to recover the retained ammonia the tailings may be discharged from the opening at the bottom of the ore-tank 0 into the yard by pipe 26; but if steaming is required I first pass some water into the tank, start the agitator, and pass steam from the steam-supply pipe 18 and through the same orifice where previously 'water was passed into the tank.

are driven from the tailings, to be cooled in the coils of the coil-tank C and finally absorbed by the water in the condenser E. The ammonia solution thusobtaincd is used again in the next operation for dissolving metals.

. The tailings are then discharged into the yard.

I have discovered that a solution of copper in ammonia,'on accountof its low specific gravity, collects much easier than othersolutions on top of the ore-body, and therefore one washing is usually sufficient to recover all the available copper. I have also discovered that the tailings undergo a rapid oxidation in the yard, and if it is desired to recover the copper still'contained in the tailings they can betiansferred back into an ore-tank to be treated again as aforesaid. With such a repetition noroast-in g or chloridizing even of refractory ores is required. Ores treated according to my herein before-described process can then bevleached with a cyanid solution to recover the precious metals, as all the metals having a disturbing action on the cyanid compounds are removed or rendered innocuous; also, the precious metals on account of the previous treatment willdissolve much more rapidly auda much more concentrated cyanid solution can be employed than according to the ordinary cyanid methodl The solution obtained by such leaching is preferably treated by electrolysis .for therecovery of the precious metals, as the concentrated state of such a solution reduces re sistance. In fact, it isa good conductor of electricity, and can therefore be electrolyzed at a very small cost. Of course after the discharge of the tai-lings the ore-tanks are.

ready to receive a new charge of stock solution and ore, and the operation is repeated as aforesaid. It is easy to make three charges in twenty-four hours, and this is a veryimportant factor, as such a rapid lixiviation is not possible byanyother method known to me.

II. Second operation: The settler D containing the strong liquid is now emptied through the pipe 3, and as a precaution this solution is passed to the pipe tand boiler F through the filter-tank E-in order to obtain an absolutely-clear solution in the boiler. The filter consists of coarse quartz sand at the bottom, and on top of it finer quartz sand to be covered with a sheet-iron screen, and might be covered also with a burlap or blanket to insure the retention of all particles of [I slime in the filter. A manhole on the filtertank allows of the removal of the filter, and

by having at or near the bot-tom'a steam-pipe connection (21) rapid filtration can be effected in caseof clogging by simply passing steam into the filter-tank for a few minutes.

The strong clear copper solution in the boiler F is now boiled with steam supplied from pipes 18 and 22, the ammonia vapors passing through the pipe 5 011 top of the boiler, through the coil of the coil-tank C", and from there to the safety and condensation tanks B and B, which latter are previously supplied with a' sufiicient amount of common water to produce a high-grade stock solution, which is used again in the following operations. The vapors coming from the boiler]? or other apparatus, as described, are cooled in the coil-tanks C" and O', by passing cold 'water through pipes 9 and 10 to nearly to the bottom of the tanks, and the warm water is discharged by overflow-pipes 'to the yard or maybe used for feeding the steam-boilers. In hot climates an ice-machine may be employed for the cooling process.

III. Third operation: The clear solutionol. the wash-settler D is discharged through a pipe 12 into the sump F?" on the g'roundfioor, andfrom here itis pumped up to the tank R to be used for diluting the stock'solutionin the ore-tank during-the nextoperationn It will be noticed that at the bottom of the set tler D and the wash-settlerD slime is settled with some solution, and all of this is now discharged through a large bottom opening and pipe 27 into a revolving cylinder or into the slime-tank 0, provided with an agitator, as

described. The slime will rapidly settle, and the strong clear'solntion is passed from the slime-tank C by means of the pipe 31 into the filter-tank E'and from here into the boiler F by pipe 4. The slime-tank O is now filled with water, the agitator is rotated, arrested for a time, and the solution emptied into the sump-tank F" by pipe 12 to be pumped up to the tank R. The next wash-water is almost white and is discharged into the ground-tanks beneath to be pumped into the boilcd-out-solution tank A. Finally, Idischargethe slimes to the yard, using water from the coil-tank or water-supply tank. It will be obvious that instead of raising and rotating the agitator, while leaving the tank (0 or C) stationary, I may employ the reverse arrangement.

IV. Fourth operation: The boiler F contains the strong clear solution from the various tanks above, which is boiled with steam supplied through the pipes 22,extending down nearly to the bottom of the conical base of the boiler. Steam should be turned on slowly and later on stronger until the liquor is white, as may be seen at the water-gage. After .allowing to settle about one hour the white boiled out solution'shou-ld be discharged through the pipe 14 into the ground-tank F". A removable filter-sieve with burlap (of the same type as shown in the filter-tank E) is used on top of these tanks to retain any float in g oxids which might pass through the valves. The clear solution is pumped'up through pipe 16 to the boiled-out-solution tank A to be used directly for washing the tailings in the ore-tanks at the second operation. The cone of the boiler contains some boiled-out solution and the oxids, which are discharged through a large'opening at the bottom into the small ground-tank F nearest the dryingcylinder. The overflow passes through a filter-sieve in the tank F and finally by pipe 28 to the big ground-tank F to be used like the other boiled-out solution described above. The oxids in the first tank F are pressed out by any well-known'or suitable means,such as a perforated sheet-iron with flatiron braces and a cover of burlap fitted into the tank, pressure being exerted by a handle and a screw-spindle resting upon bearings on the floor, or there may be located inthe tank another tank,which can be lifted up against the perforations by means of chains, hooks, and pulleys, the oxids being thus pressed out and lifted out to be dried in the adjoining drying-pan F, heated by exhaust or live steam. The pan has a removable but tightly-fitting cover,and in case ammonia vapors should be contained in the oxide they-can be recovered by the va-- per-pipe .25, as al'oresaid. The steam-jacket beneath is heated by exhaust or live steam. All of the tanks should have water-gages and they should be so arranged to allow vapors or gases from the tanks in case they are filled to pass through a small rubber pipe into hydrochloric acid or water contained in a demijohn. In the last case the produced ammonia-water will be led to the condenser to be used again with the ammonia-water already. contained in such condenser, and if hydrochloric acid is used ammonia is recovered in the boiler F. Afterusing the boiledout solution repeatedly non-volatile ammonia compounds will accumulate, from which ammonia can be recovered by adding lime-milk to the solution and heating it, thus recovering all ammonia employed:

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatentv n 1. The process of treating coppe. ores, which consists in adding the coin minuted ore gradually under agitation to an ammoniated solution, and then adding a diluting liquid to the mixture to obtain a highly-concentrated copper solution, substantially as described.

2. The process for treating copper ores, which consists in adding the comminuted'ore gradually under agitation to an ammoniated' solution, diluting the solution, separating it from the slimes, and washing or leaching the slimes separately.

The process for treating copper ores,

which consists in adding the comminuted ore which consists in adding the comm inuted ore gradually under agitation to an ammoniated solution, diluting the solution, separating it from the slimes, washing or leaching the slimes separately, and heating the residue of the slimes to recover the ammonia therefrom.

- HENRY HIRSOHING. Witnesses:

GUSTAV SCHULZ, W. B. FAIRFIELD. 

